IPSWICH Town loan midfielder Keith Andrews has described the opportunity to play world and European champions Spain as well as Italy in the group stages of Euro 2012 as “fantastic”.
Andrews, who should skipper the Blues in tomorrow’s must-win match at home to Watford, admitted the draw for next summer’s tournament could have been kinder on the Republic of Ireland – with Croatia making up the quartet.
But Andrews said: “It is a tough draw. We said before privately we would have taken the host nations but we have drawn the world champions, the current holders, and to play a team like that will be fantastic.
“To pit yourself against a team like that is great but the draw could have been kinder, no doubt about it.”
David Stockdale, on a season-long loan from Fulham, will be hoping to impress with Town to keep his place in Fabio Capello’s England squad before the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
England were drawn against France, Ukraine and Sweden and could face the Irish in the last eight if both teams get through.
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